The Symposium has grown since that time to become the premier meeting of all sectors of the space community - now encompassing more than 8,000 attendees representing military, civil, commercial, and entrepreneurial space, plus two exhibit halls, three full days of educational events, and new and exciting programs for up-and-coming space leaders.

And, although it has grown along with the National Space Symposium, The Broadmoor Hotel has retained its position as one of America's finest grand hotels.

So much so that last month Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards (formerly Mobil Five-Star Award by Mobil Travel Guide) honored The Broadmoor as a Five Star winner for 2010 - for a record 50th consecutive year.

The Broadmoor is the only property to ever achieve this status and is also the longest-running consecutive winner of both the AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awards.

Additionally, the historic resort has the distinction in 2010 of becoming a triple Five Star winner with the addition of Five-Star ratings for both the Penrose Room restaurant and The Spa at Broadmoor.

Located on 3,000 lush acres under the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain, The Broadmoor offers an award-winning spa, fitness center, two swimming pools, three outdoor hot tubs, one lap pool; 54 holes of championship golf, six tennis courts with tennis camps; children's programs; 24-hour room service, valet parking, pet-friendly accommodations, 24 specialty retail shops, and superb meeting, exhibition, and hospitality facilities. Even National Space Symposium attendees who aren't staying on property get to enjoy the ambiance, the service, the tradition for excellence, and the spectacular view.

With a history dating back to 1891, The Broadmoor was built by entrepreneur Spencer Penrose to rival Europe's finest hotels, and its grounds include a museum of vintage carriages and automobiles. In addition, some 26th National Space Symposium events are held at the adjacent Penrose House, Spencer Penrose's gracious antique-filled home and gardens.

"The beauty, elegance, and history of the The Broadmoor create a fascinating backdrop for discussing global space endeavors," said Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham. "This is just one of the reasons there's no other event like the National Space Symposium anywhere in the world."

The Broadmoor and the Space Foundation share a long partnership. In addition the serving as the National Space Symposium venue for 26 years, The Broadmoor has supported Space Foundation programs, especially those that benefit schools, teachers, and students. This year, The Broadmoor donated significantly to the establishment of the Space Foundation Discovery Institute on the campus of the Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy in Colorado Springs.

The Space Foundation Discovery Institute provides space- and aerospace-themed professional development, training, and support for teachers and students from around the world and serves as the base location for the Space Foundation's education programs for teachers and students. It houses classrooms, a NASA Educator Resource Center, and eventually will include three major laboratories: a simulated space mission operations center to open in early 2010; a simulated Martian terrain laboratory to open in early 2011; and a Science on a Sphere facility in early 2012.

To read more about the 26th National Space Symposium, see the series of articles in this issue of Space Watch or click here.